It’s fast becoming a geek world out there, and all moms need to show off their tech smarts and superhero-like skills in order to keep their savvy kids entertained and engaged. Geek Mom: Projects, Tips, and Adventures for Moms and Their 21st-Century Families explores the many fun and interesting ways that digital-age parents and kids can get their geek on together. ImaginatIt’s fast becoming a geek world out there, and all moms need to show off their tech smarts and superhero-like skills in order to keep their savvy kids entertained and engaged. Geek Mom: Projects, Tips, and Adventures for Moms and Their 21st-Century Families explores the many fun and interesting ways that digital-age parents and kids can get their geek on together. Imaginative ideas for all ages and budgets include thrifty Halloween costumes, homemade lava lamps, hobbit feasts, and magical role-playing games. There are even projects for moms to try when they have a few precious moments alone. With six sections spanning everything from home-science experiments to superheroes, this comprehensive handbook from the editors of Wired.com’s popular GeekMom blog is packed with ideas guaranteed to inspire a love of learning and discovery. Along the way, parents will also find important tips on topics such as determining safe online communities for children, organizing a home learning center, and encouraging girls to love science. Being geeky is all about exploring the world with endless curiosity. Geek Mom is your invitation to introducing the same sense of wonder and imagination to the next generation....more

Paperback, 224 pages

Published
October 30th 2012
by Potter Craft
(first published January 1st 2012)

Community Reviews

I'm a dude, and previously have enjoyed the Geek Dad project books very much. The Geek Mom book is another animal, with a different approach and contents, but one that ultimately I think even more highly of. The Geek Dad books are almost entirely project-focused: a few pages of a project, followed by another project, on and on. There are some good projects and recipes in the Geek Mom book, but the book also adds more than this, it helps inspire both in its adult reader (of either gender, I mustI'm a dude, and previously have enjoyed the Geek Dad project books very much. The Geek Mom book is another animal, with a different approach and contents, but one that ultimately I think even more highly of. The Geek Dad books are almost entirely project-focused: a few pages of a project, followed by another project, on and on. There are some good projects and recipes in the Geek Mom book, but the book also adds more than this, it helps inspire both in its adult reader (of either gender, I must add!) and the kids (or students, etc.) involved with the projects and recipes to *think* beyond the surface level of "Cool Project! OK what's the next project..." to approaching life as an experiment, as an experience of joy whether it's "build this gizmo" or noticing something odd about the vines snaking around a tree on a hike. It's about getting *out there* into life, a self-kick-starter package of "there's more to being human and especially being a parent than making sure the kid's 100% safe all the time, let's go ADVENTURING and take something apart". While the projects etc. are certainly suitable for all ages and genders, it is especially awesome that this book will (hopefully!) be enjoyed by lots of girls who can grow up to tinker and make and ask questions. Recommended highly for parents and teachers, and hopefully there'll be a book 2 with even more projects and such before too long....more

Never have I been so proud to be a geek mom. In my school days, the term geek was not used an a compliment (along with nerd), but I think I need a badge that reads, "Proud Geek Mom." With my professed love for Dr. Horrible and Buffy the Vampire's musical episode, it's safe to say that I"m a card carrying member of the club.

Thanks to the new book Geek Mom: Projects, Tips, and Adventures for Moms and Their 21st-Century Families, I can share my geeky passions with my kids. The book is co-written byNever have I been so proud to be a geek mom. In my school days, the term geek was not used an a compliment (along with nerd), but I think I need a badge that reads, "Proud Geek Mom." With my professed love for Dr. Horrible and Buffy the Vampire's musical episode, it's safe to say that I"m a card carrying member of the club.

Thanks to the new book Geek Mom: Projects, Tips, and Adventures for Moms and Their 21st-Century Families, I can share my geeky passions with my kids. The book is co-written by the bloggers of Wired Magazine's Geek Mom Blog: Natania Barron, Kathy Ceceri, Carrina Lawson, and Jenny Williams. Reading these talented women's bios made me feel proud to be a mom. They show that you can be a mom and still pursue your passions.

I like the Geek Mom blog pretty well, but like many blogs-turned-books, this one seems like a lot of filler and not enough substance. The book is mostly targeted to the larger audience - geeks have something to offer everyone! And in doing so, it falls short for someone like me. It preaches to the choir. And then every once in a while, there will be a monologue about how to talk to non-geek moms. The book has to make up its mind who it's talking to. I also don't get why parents need books to remI like the Geek Mom blog pretty well, but like many blogs-turned-books, this one seems like a lot of filler and not enough substance. The book is mostly targeted to the larger audience - geeks have something to offer everyone! And in doing so, it falls short for someone like me. It preaches to the choir. And then every once in a while, there will be a monologue about how to talk to non-geek moms. The book has to make up its mind who it's talking to. I also don't get why parents need books to remind them their kids can make hideouts out of big boxes, for example.

That said, there are some cool ideas in here. But if you're already into this stuff, or already a pretty creative parent, it's probably old hat....more

Not what I hoped it would be. I thought it was a full book of activity and craft ideas. It was actually about 50% text, little sections by each of the authors explaining about different types of geekery and how that has to do with mom-ing, and then a couple of activity ideas in each section. I wasn't too interested in the activities either, especially because I have 3YO and most are for older kids.

You don't have to give up RPG, video gaming, cosplay, comics, gardening, space camp, etc. just because you have kids. Bring them along! I have a past as a comic book geek and am married to a Geek Dad. When hunting up activities and projects I might try with my four year old, I find it easy to come up with cut & paste type projects, and harder to find things that are STEM oriented. All manner of geekery is celebrated here, though I think it's a little heavier on the tech/gaming geekery than fYou don't have to give up RPG, video gaming, cosplay, comics, gardening, space camp, etc. just because you have kids. Bring them along! I have a past as a comic book geek and am married to a Geek Dad. When hunting up activities and projects I might try with my four year old, I find it easy to come up with cut & paste type projects, and harder to find things that are STEM oriented. All manner of geekery is celebrated here, though I think it's a little heavier on the tech/gaming geekery than fibercraft/cooking activities.

Basically, if you bought Goldie Blox for the child in your life, this book is probably right up your alley....more

This book is great in theory, not so much in delivery. Garden like a geek! Rocks like a geek! Music! Cosplay! Blank cards! Home schooling! It's like they tried to cram everything in as quickly as possible, to show hey, Geeks can be cool, too!

The problem is that this book is most likely going to be picked up by those same Geeks who actually kind of know about that already. And there's not much here for us.

::shrug:: My kid thinks wearing glasses makes her a "geek", so what do I know.

Book is if mom is a geek and wants to make her kids the same way. I am an SF and anime fan who doesn't do the con scene, and the Resident Kid isn't a geek supergenius, just a regular kid who likes science and nature. My first reaction to the book was that it was as if Donna Erickson watched too much bad skiffy. I'll just pick up some books of simple science experiments to complement the Erickson books I already have, as well as the young birder resources and various kid cookbooks.

This book would have been incredibly helpful if Christopher was a couple years younger. There were clever ideas for indoor games and science experiments. The information was still cool as something for me to use at a library program or with my nieces. I recommend it for parents who are geeky and embrace it!

This book would make a great gift for a geek-mom-to-be or one with little ones. Some of the stuff in there is downright off the charts wacky (don't blow up your microwave with the grape trick), but it'd make a fun conversation piece with some fun projects, ideas and things to talk about/try with the kiddos.

I got it looking for ideas of things to do with my daughter. More than half of what is in the book I had already done with her. They all seemed pretty obvious for a mom who is also a geek. It seemed to be targeted to non-geek people married to geeks who need help with the kids who also turn out geeky.

Perfect for what I was looking for at the time. I knew I was a bit geeky but didn't really know how to transmits bits and pieces of my geekiness to my little girl. So there are tons of get great tips, crafts, experiments and recipes. Really helpful new hobbies to explore too.

Natania Barron is a writer with a penchant for the speculative; she is also an unrepentant geek. Her work has appeared in Weird Tales, EscapePod, The Gatehouse Gazette, Thaumatrope, Bull Spec, Crossed Genres, Steampunk Tales, Faerie Magazine, and in a number of anthologies. Her work often incorporates Victorian aesthetics with magic and science fiction, treading between genres whenever possible. HNatania Barron is a writer with a penchant for the speculative; she is also an unrepentant geek. Her work has appeared in Weird Tales, EscapePod, The Gatehouse Gazette, Thaumatrope, Bull Spec, Crossed Genres, Steampunk Tales, Faerie Magazine, and in a number of anthologies. Her work often incorporates Victorian aesthetics with magic and science fiction, treading between genres whenever possible. Her first novel, Pilgrim of the Sky, will be available in December of 2011.

Natania is also the founder of The Outer Alliance, a group dedicated to queer advocacy in speculative fiction. Recently, she joined the Bull Spec crew as a fiction editor.

In addition, Natania also blogs for Wired Magazine’s GeekDad Blog as well as Geeks Are Sexy. Also, Natania is a senior editor at GeekMom.

Natania holds a BA in English/Writing from Loyola University Maryland and an MA in English with a concentration in medieval literature from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In her spare time she cooks, bakes, drinks coffee, crochets, plays guitar and ukulele, and enjoys nature. She lives in North Carolina with her family....more